By Press Release
Isle of Wight NHS Trust declared yet another Critical Incident on Tuesday this week, as the Island’s only hospital became overwhelmed with people needing emergency care and challenges in discharging people from hospital.
This is the fourth critical incident since July 28, meaning St Mary’s Hospital is completely full and the Emergency Department will only accept people with life-threatening conditions and injuries.
Some planned surgical procedures and outpatient appointments have been postponed, but cancer treatment and urgent operations were prioritised.
Medical director, Steve Parker, said: “The situation is serious but we are taking urgent steps to ensure the safety of our services.
“We must improve the flow of patients through the hospital and we are appealing to our local community to help by making sure loved ones are collected from hospital when they are ready to leave. This will free up beds for those who need them.
“Only come to the Emergency Department (ED) for life-threatening conditions and injuries. NHS 111 online can help you find where to get help and support.”
He added that there is a rise in Covid cases and Islanders should get a Covid jab if they are offered one and not attend the hospital if they have symptoms.
Despite the IW NHS Trust paying for a new 72-bed ward in Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital (QAH), which has been open since the beginning of the year, no patients are being transferred into it unless it is medically necessary.
The IW Observer asked why the Trust was not using the mainland beds it had funded to free up Island beds to help deal with the critical incident. We did not get a response before going to print.
Last week a spokeswoman for the trust said: “The investment in additional beds in Portsmouth means that QAH is more resilient and better able to respond to the healthcare needs of our local community. Since the new beds opened every Islander who has needed a bed in Portsmouth has been able to get one.”
Responding to a Freedom of Information request submitted on August 15, the IW NHS Trust refused to reveal why the new beds were built on the mainland and the evidence used when making that decision. We have asked them to review the decision not to answer our questions.
Header image: The new 72-bed ward paid for by IW NHS Trust. pic: Wernick Group